Sam Bahadur, the architect of the 1971 victory against Pakistan, deserves the Bharat Ratna

He is the only military commander in modern times who can be described as the “soldiers’ soldier”. Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, or Sam Manekshaw, led India in the 1971 war against Pakistan which resulted in the birth of Bangladesh. How he won the war despite odds like shortage of weapons and manpower has been recorded in golden letters in military history. He was the country’s Chief of Army Staff from 1969 to 1973 and was promoted as India’s first Field Marshal in January 1973. An Army commander who never hesitated to speak his mind to the highest political leadership, Sam Manekshaw is not a name to be remembered only on his birth or death anniversaries because he was much more than a military chief. Born as the son of a doctor in a middle class family, Sam could have opted for any profession of his choice but he ended up in the

military academy. The story of Manekshaw as a soldier, officer and commander is folklore. Bravery, gallantry, intelligence and the willingness to go to the extra mile to realise his mission endeared him to his officers and subordinates.

The best example of his professional prowess was the decision of his British commander Major General David Cowan honouring a critically injured Manekshaw, then a captain fighting on the Burma front in 1942, with a Military Cross. The award was in recognition of his valour and

fighting spirit against the Imperial Japanese Army. Since a dead man cannot be awarded the Military Cross, the British commander decorated Manekshaw, who was fighting for his life after being felled by Japanese bullets. The appointment of Manekshaw as CoAS was a morale booster to the Indian Army which has not looked back since. India owes a lot to Sam for the win in the 1975 World Cup Hockey Championship at Kuala Lumpur. It was Sam who asked MAM Ramaswamy, an industrialist in Chennai, to pay for the air tickets of the Indian team with the day’s Government looking the other way. Each person who has met him at least once has many things to reminiscence about this legendary soldier. This great son of India is a real Bharat Ratna and it would be ideal to honour him with the top

civilian award during the 75th anniversary of India's freedom.